Dehydrator



. June 30,1942. 8.1.. KNIGHT 2,288,285

DEHYDRATOR Filed April 12, 1-941 Inventc'm: James L. Kn:

His Attorney.

Patented June 30, 1942 DEHYDRATOR James L. Knight, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application Aprl112, 1941, Serial No. 388,281

9 Claims.

My invention relates to refrigerator cabinets and more particularly to dehydrating compartments or receptacles for use with refrigerator cabinets.

Certain foods as cereals and crackers, for example, are packaged to maintain the articles in a crisp condition. When the package is opened,

tion will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of thy-invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a refrigerator-cabinet embodying the features of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated a refrigerator cabinet ID of the domestic type having a food storage compartment Ii defined by suitable heat insulated walls and a closure member l2. The walls of the cabinet include 7 an inner liner I3 and an outer casing or liner ll of relatively good heat conductive material, as a suitable metal, the space therebetween being filled with a suitable thermal insulating material l5. In order to provide refrigeration for the compartment II, I have provided an evaporator or cooling element iii of any suitable type,

illustrated in the drawing as being arranged in the upper portion of the refrigerated food storage compartment. Inasmuch as the refrigerat-' ing apparatus forms no part of my present invcn-- tion, it is not believed necessary to show the complete refrigerating system. I haveillustrated a plurality of shelves l1 suitably retained in the desired positions on the walls of the compartment H as by shelf supports I8. I have also illustrated a cold storage receptacle l9 suitably supported immediately below the cooling element It.

In the illustrated form of my invention the refrigerating unit including the motor compressor element is located at the rear of the lower portion. of the cabinet (not shown). Toward the front of this portion of the cabinet there is provided a dehydrator compartment 20 in the form of a-slidable drawer. In the illustrated form of my invention the dehydrator comprises a top or cover portion 2i having a downwardly and inwardly turned flange 22 extending longitudinally along each edge of the cover, the inwardly turned portion of tlie flange serving as a supporting rail for the outwardly turned flange 23 of theslidable container 20. The cover 2i may be supported from the cabinet in any desired manner as by brackets 24 suitably secured as by welding to the cover and the cabinet frame.

The dehydrator receptacle 20 shouldbe substantially airtight in order to minimize the leakage of moisture-carrying air into the interior of the receptacle. Therefore, the flange 22 of the cover preferably extends around the sides and rear of .the receptacle. In the illustrated form of my invention, the front wall of the receptacle 20 is in the form of a closure member or panel 25 contacting the outer surface of the lower portion of the refrigerator cabinet in the closed position thereof. A handle member 26 is provided to facilitate operation of the receptacle or drawer 20. If necessary, the cover or panel portion 25 may be provided with suitable sealing means (not shown) for sealing the space between the panel member 25 and the front of the refrigerator cabinet in order to minimize the possibility of transfer of air between'the interior of the receptacle 20 and the air exteriorly of the cabinet through that space.

I have provided communication between the food storage compartment and the interior of the dehydrator compartment or receptaclefor permitting the passage of water vapor from the dehydrator to the compartment. In the illustrated arrangement provides a good heat, conductingpath for conducting 'heat from the air exterior to the cabinet to the conduit 21 thereby tending to prevent any downward flow of air through the densation adjacent the end of the conduit associated with the food storage compartment can- Znot run down into the receptacle 20.

As is wellunderstood, moisture contained in the air within the refrigerated compartment condenses out and is deposited on the coldest portion of the compartment, that. is, the cooling elea manner that moisture dripping from the evaporator or cooling element, the walls of the compartment or any article stored therein will not collect in the communicating means or conduit.

Modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, the dehydrator compartment or receptacle may be placed in any desired location. Also, while a sliding receptacle is illustrated, the dehydrator may be fixed as to position and be equipped with a door in the front wall,- for example. Further, it is not necessary under all conditions and under all forms of my invention that the upwardly extending loop be provided, nor that the conduit engage the outer casing.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

- '1. In a refrigerator having a refrigerated conipartment and a cooling element disposed therein, a substantially air-tight receptacle associated with said refrigerator cabinet, and means communicating between the interior of the compartment and the interior of the receptacle for permitting the passage of water vapor from the receptacle to the refrigerated compartment, said means being constructed and arranged in such a manner as to prevent the collection therein of moisture dripping from said cooling element, the walls of said compartment, orarticles stored in the compartment.

2. In a refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment and a cooling element disposed therein, a substantially air-tight receptacle associated with said refrigerator cabinet, and means including a passage communicating between the interior of the compartment and the interior of the receptacle for permitting the passage of water vapor from the receptacle to the refrigerated compartment, said passage communicating with the refrigerated compartment in the vicinity of the cooling element, the compartment end of said passage being constructed and arranged to prevent the collection therein of moisture dripping from said cooling element, the walls of said compartment, or articles stored therein.

3. In a refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment and a cooling element disposed therein, a substantially air-tight receptacle associated with said refrigerator, cabinet, means communieating between the interior of the compartment and the interior of the receptacle for permitting the passage of water vapor from the receptacle to the refrigerated compartment, and means for substantially preventing the passage of cold air from the interior of said compartment to the partment and the interior of said receptacle.

5. In a refrigerator cabinet of the type having inner and outer metallic liners, a food storage compartment in said cabinet and a cooling element in said compartment, a substantially airtight receptacle disposed lower than said cooling element, means communicating between the compartment in the vicinity of the cooling element and the interior of the receptacle, said means comprising a relatively long conduit having a substantial length thereof disposed in intimate compartment into the receptacle.

6. In a refrigerator having a refrigerated compartment and a cooling element disposed therein, a substantially air-tight receptacle associated with said refrigerator cabinet, means communicating between the interior of thecompartment and the interior of the receptacle for permitting the passage of water vapor from the receptacle to the refrigerated compartment, and means for substantially preventing the passage of moisture from the interior of said compartment to the interior of said receptacle.

- '1. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage compartment, a cooling element disposed therein, a substantially air-tight receptacle, means including a conduit communicating between the compartment and the interior of the receptacle, said conduit being provided with means for substantially preventing the passage of moisture from the interior of said compartment to the interior of said receptacle.

8. In a refrigerator cabinet, a food storage compartment, a cooling element disposed therein, a substantially air-tight receptacle, means including a conduit communicating between the compartment and the interior of the receptacle, said conduit being provided with an upwardly extending loop adjacent the end thereof associated with the storage compartment.

9. In a refrigerator cabinet of the type having walls defining a food storage compartment, the walls comprising inner and outer metallic liners with thermal insulation therebetween, the outer liner having relatively good heat conducting characteristics, a substantially air-tight receptacle disposed below said compartment, means communicating between the compartment and the interior of the receptacle, said means comprising a'relatively long conduit having a substantial length thereof in intimate thermal engagement with the outer liner and also including an upwardly extending loop adjacent the upper end thereof.

JAMES L. WIGHT. 

